It has been pointed out to me that my mention of Montreal Locomotive Works manufacturing the carrier hulls is incorrect. One should not quote from memory at my age!
W. A. M. Gregg in his Canadian Military Vehicles Profiles describes the manufacturing of the armour:
"Although a few hand built armoured cars had been built by Russell Motor Car Co. and others during the First World War, virtually no Canadian Manufacturer had any knowledge of bullet proof or armour plate production prior to 1940. The problem was further complicated by British advisors inferring that some mystical process was involved, which surely was beyond colonial comprehension. Metallurgists at Dominion Foundries and Steel (Dofasco) in Hamilton soon discovered, however, that good quality steel could take on all the desired properties through straight forward alloy and carbon adjustment. Dofasco established, through its tests in 1940, that a level of alloy well below that in allied use at the time, had optimum qualities for armour plate. The Dofasco formula was soon adopted by both American and British manufacturers. Dofasco was able to produce good plate but had difficulty with proper heat treating and straightening. Dietrich Saw Company of Galt had developed techniques for straightening large saw blades and were able to do the job with little delay. The plate was then sent to International Harvester Co. in Hamilton for punching and forwarded to Dominion Bridge Co. for hull fabrication which was done in an old plant south of Windsor which was reopened for the purpose."
George
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